all hands on deck
Aug 24, 2010 Uncategorized
it happens. we forget. we put ourselves at the center. others get overlooked. but it doesn’t have to be that way!
as the summer winds down and school & fall ramp up, there is also a fairly significant movement (back) to church. And if our minds and hearts are ill-prepared, we’ll forget that there are new people stepping out in faith. if we aren’t prayerfully prepared we will get caught in the trappings our own returning routines and reuniting with friends.
To be the church in the best of ways, we must make others our focus. We mustn’t forget that folks are coming as a result of God’s prompting – maybe even searching for God in the midst of difficult life circumstances. In any case they will not only be looking for God, but looking for the people of God. They’re hoping to find a God that loves them, and they will largely make that judgment based on whether the people of God notice and seem to care for them. That’s us.
And we do well not to over-spiritualize our part. Except to trust God to equip and work through us, our success with others is intensely practical. People will be moved to be noticed and to see ones easily break away from their cliquey conversations to greet them. Come 15 minutes early, roam the foyer, look for ones you don’t know, resist the desire to hide in a comfortable conversation and put yourself “out there” for Jesus sake. Just one greeting is all we need from each of you.
New folks will also be impressed if there is a seat at the table for them. Can you imagine being invited for dinner to someone’s home and then being offered a seat at folding table in the basement? How different would the experience be if you were offered the best seat? Let’s offer the best seats to others – those would be seats in the back 1/2 of a room near the aisles. Slide, slide, slide yourself to the center front! Better yet – help the ones you meet to find a seat. Escort them in and ask if they’d like your company or not. Some will accept others need to know its okay to decline!
Finally, use the first 3 minutes following services to meet someone else (or to reconnect with someone you met before hand). Most new folks will leave quickly – so we must be quick and intentional. A simple “thanks,” or “can i help you with anything,” or “can i respond to any questions,” is plenty. Many times they will decline the offers, but it will mean a ton that you afforded them your time and the opportunity. Certainly we want to gather together each Sunday to pray and worship God and connect with friends, and we will. But the healthy church is a balanced church that always remembers it’s outward mission. Use the critical times to healthify the church!
let’s refuse to let it happen. let’s not forget. let’s join God and make the lost and returning the beat of our heart and the recipients of our attention. that’s the way. let’s go, church!
applause from heaven?
Aug 11, 2010 Uncategorized
Something unusual happened this weekend during our Sunday service. If you were there you might be already saying to yourself, “Yeah, no kidding!” And we might be thinking about the same thing. Was it the musical worship selections? I don’t think so. Was it the cool shirt I was wearing? Definitely not. Was it the worship leader or his prayer? Nope. Was it the lighting? Sound mix? Crowd size and energy? Nope. No. Uh-uh. What was it? You, like me, might not be able to put your finger on it. I walked out shaking my head [literally], while muttering to myself, ‘What just happened?” I mean, seriously, I can’t remember one time in my 18 (or whatever it is) years of being a pastor that following the message the congregation broke into applause?? Very odd… Here’s what I think: God moved in you. We took a powerful passage of scripture (John 1), unveiled the powerful truth within in (Jesus alive in us) and set Jesus great commandment center-stage (Go, be Jesus to the world). We put it out there and made a commitment to have that core scriptural truth, that heart of God, that Jesus-reality central to what Vista is and is about – and heaven applauded! Applause erupted in heaven, your soul heard it, and you joined in. I received none of it personally – I was moved with you. To me, God’s affirmation of His word and your acknowledgment meant, “That’s right. We get it. We’re in. Let’s do it!” This week we’ll try to get practical about incarnational, organic ministry. That should be fun! If you missed last week you might want to catch up by listening to it: How We Role :: Vista’s Distinctives. Consider arriving early to welcome guests, and then sit down front to offer easier seating for them! Then, buckle up, who knows what God’s up to this week…
jonah
Jul 22, 2010 Uncategorized
Over the next two weeks at Vista we will be finishing up our study in the book of Jonah. The account is so often re-told and explained in Kids Church so that it loses some of it’s depth – understandably so. What has surprised me most during our look is the richness of the account surrounding the tormented prophet…most importantly, the heart of God throughout the story. If it goes well, the next two weeks messages will bring to light what’s possibly the single greatest theme in the book: the extravagantly compassionate heart of God. If we can get to better know the God on display here, our lives would be unavoidably changed. Come with hearts prepared to meet God anew this Sunday. Come early – get a front and center seat!
